Patricia Wilson Crowder, 56, of Ocean Springs, MS died Saturday, July 10, 2010. Patricia was born in Biloxi on Sept. 13, 1953. She graduated from St. Martin High School in 1972. She attended MS Gulf Coast Community Jr. College. Patricia was employed with Del's Seaway Shrimp factory and Quality Home Health Care, Private Duty. She was a former member of LeMoyne Blvd. Baptist, McClellan Rd. Baptist and Fernwood Baptist Church.

Patricia is preceded in death by her father, William Bruce Wilson, Sr.; grandparents, Louis and Della Bodden and Swade and Anna Wilson.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Crowder; mother, Nona Wilson; son, Jerry (Kimberly) Williams; brothers, Bruce (Maxine Seymour) Wilson, Jr., Nate (Marla) Wilson; sister, Angeline (Derek) Groves; grandchildren, Briana and Zachary Williams; nephew, Nathaniel Groves and niece, Anna Groves.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 18, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home.

Funeral services were Monday, July 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at LeMoyne Blvd. Baptist Church. Friends visited from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment followed in D'Iberville Memorial Park.

Ms. Tonya Griffin Merlau, age 49, of Ocean Springs, MS., died Thursday, July 15, 2010, in Ocean Springs.

Ms. Merlau was a lifelong resident of Mississippi. She was a registered nurse and was employed with New Gulf Coast Surgical Center in Ocean Springs. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nell Griffin and T.A. Griffin and her grandmother, Winnie Pentz.

Survivors include her two sons, Joshua Merlau and Micah Merlau, brother, Thomas Griffin and niece, Brittany Griffin.

Visitation was on Saturday, July 17, 2010, from 1 pm until 2 pm, with a 2 pm chapel service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home.

Lambert Junior Pickard, 87, of Vancleave, MS died peacefully in Pascagoula on Saturday, July10th, 2010. Mr. Pickard was born in Meridian, MS, June 28, 1923 and had been a resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1965.

Mr. Pickard was a gentle man who was filled with love for his family and friends. One could honestly say he never met a stranger. Many people were drawn to him because of his gentle and caring nature. Once a friend, always a friend, was the way he lived his life.

Mr. Pickard was born in Meridian, MS to Alex Lambert Pickard and Gladys Faye Etheredge Pickard. He was a veteran of WWII and served in the US Army, stationed in Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. His career at Ingalls Shipbuilding began in 1966 concluding with his retirement from Litton Industries as a Senior Planner in 1993. He was a loving and active member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Pickard was an ardent gardener and enjoyed the outdoors and beauty of the Coast. His lifelong passion for sports included playing semi-pro baseball for the Meridian Millers in the late 1940’s, playing basketball for the U.S. Army, as well as coaching many local youth athletic programs. He was an avid golfer and a charter member of Pine Island Golf Club in Ocean Springs, MS. He loved to share his vegetables and flowers from his garden and his enthusiasm for golf and sports with his many grateful family and friends.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Estelle E. Pickard of Vancleave; his sister, Bonnie Jean Zirlott of Ocean Springs; his children, daughter Madeline Power of Ocean Springs, son Lambert Clark “Bubba” (Diane) Pickard of Ocean Springs, and Sara (Robert) Smith of Baytown, TX; his stepchildren John Ivy of Jacksonville, FL, Thomas (Linda) Ivy of Pembroke Pines, FL, Betty (Greg) Fountain of Navarre, FL, and Bonnie Beason Tanner of Ocean Springs; his grandchildren, Stephanie Saenz, Stacie Walter, Natalie Marcussen, Lee Pickard, Heather Smith, April Ivy, Brian Ivy, Tammy Current, Angela Blue, Thomas Ivy, Jr., Kenneth Fountain, Rachael Sistrunk, Billy Hudson, and Donna Barthes; nephew Keith Zirlott, niece Seri Zirlott and 21 great-grandchildren and dear friend and devoted care-giver Mary Nettles.

His parents, his first wife of 50 years, Daisy Marie Clark Pickard, and a stepson, Robert Earl Beason, Jr, preceded Mr. Pickard in death.

Visitation was held on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs for family from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and for friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services were held on Friday, July 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs. Interment was at the National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS immediately following the funeral service.

Leslie Bosarge Seymour, age 67, of Ocean Springs, MS died Thursday, July 8, 2010 in Ocean Springs.

Mrs. Seymour was a housewife and a lifelong resident of the Coast. She was an avid Elvis and Saints fan.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Leslie Bosarge and Marguerite Tyner; and brother, Larry Bosarge.

Survivors include her husband, Gordon Seymour; three daughters, Dawn (Eddie) Carmichael Flavian, Audra (Brad) Carmichael VonReaden, Sonja (Chris) Carmichael Sharp; one son, Gary (Angie) Carmichael; three sisters, Nancy Rayner, Linda Hudson, Peggy Bosarge; seven grandchildren and her beloved pet, Boots.

Service was Monday, July 12, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. where friends visited from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial was at Martin/Ryan Cemetery.

M/Sgt. Alan Ray Sonnier, 62, of Ocean Springs, MS died Monday, July 12, 2010 in Pascagoula, MS. Mr. Sonnier had been a resident of Ocean Springs since 1972. He was a retired M/Sgt. with the USAF and Air National Guard. He worked for Ingalls and B.A.E. Mr. Sonnier was also a volunteer fireman with Gulf Park Estates.He was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

Mr. Sonnier is preceded in death by his mother, Retha Faye.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Suzanne Sonnier, Ocean Springs; father, Raymond Sonnier, Kirbyville, TX; Nicole Sonnier (David) Ribet, Gulfport; granddaughter, Desiree Beasley, Gulfport; 3 step-sons and 1 step-daughter; sisters, Sherry (Cliff) Matlock, Kirbyville, TX, Lana (Ricky) Guillory, Kirbyville, TX, Connie (Kevin) Christopher, Port Arthur, TX; brother, Chris (Jill) Sonnier, Groves, TX.

Interment will be held at a later date.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue, Biloxi is in charge of arrangements.